Automatic bundle tying machines



Sept. 3, 1963 J. R. AINSWQRTH ETAL AUTOMATIC BUNDLE mus MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1960 J r m 8 W I h m w m A R. n h

Law's H F F Gzpps B Sept. 3, 1963 J. R. AINSWORTH ETAL 3,102,467

AUTOMATIC BUNDLE TYING MACHINES Filed March 1'7, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 3, 1963 J. R. AINSWORTH arm. 2,

AUTDMATIC BUNDLE TYING MACHINES Filed March 17. 1960 e Sheets-Sheet 3 /l//////I// /7///1/ /A I l I r A /74 T I I 158 $152 5/4 Sept. 3, 1963 .1. R. AINSWORTH EIAL 3,102,457

AUTOMATIC BUNDLE mus MACHINES Filed March 17. 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 4 J. R. AINSWORTH ETAL 3, ,467 AUTOMATIC BUNDLE TYING MACHINES Sept. 3, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 17, 1960 Ll HQERQGENNQ QMmK OQWRM T lb \Q hum Sept. 3, 1963 J. R. AINSWORTH ETAL 3,102,467

AUTOMATIC BUNDLE TYING MACHINES 6 SheetS- -Sheet 6 Filed March 17, 1960 United States Patent ration of New Jersey Filed Mar. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 15,678 6 Claims. (Cl. 10027) The present invention relates to improvements in machines adapted for use in applying a length of twine or the like about a bundle. While the illustrated embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the use of twine, it will be understood that other tying mediums, for example string, cord, or wire, may be used.

There is a demand, for example in the newspaper trade, for a machine which will rapidly and reliably :apply a length of twine, or the like, about a bundle. One type of machine for performing this operation is illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,198,440, issued April 23, 1940 in the name of Marchand. Such a machine comprises a ring which, in the operation of the machine, rotates to carry the twine around a bundle that is positioned within the ring. However, in machines of this type, it has usually been necessary to arrest movement of the ring before the end of the cycle of the machine so that the twine may be held tensioned around the bundle while a joint is being formed. As a result of this requirement, the arrested position of the ring is a critical factor, in the proper operation of such machines, in order to obtain consistent results in tying. Heretofore complex mechanisms for arresting rotation of the ring have been required, and these mechanisms must be able to stand up against the strain of quickly and accurately arresting a fairly rapidly rotating heavy ring.

The machine hereinafter to be described, as the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, is also a machine of the type wherein a ring is rotated to loop a length of twine around a bundle, and wherein means are provided to form a joint, between two overlapping portions of the twine, by applying a metal clip. The machine is provided with a frame comprising a box-shaped base on which is mounted a table. A head frame extends up from the base above the table and a ring is rotatably mounted in the head frame. A slot for the reception of the twine Wrapping is formed in the table substantially in the plane of the ring. Mounted below the table adjacent the slot are joint-forming and twine-severing mechanisms.

In the operation of the machine a bundle is positioned on the table and the ring is caused to rotate. A gripper on the ring picks up a free end portion of twine from a twine-supply device and, as the ring rotates around the bundle, twine is drawn out from the supply. This twine is carried past the joint-forming and twine-severing mechanisms to form a loop around the bundle, so that portions of twine are positioned in overlapping relation adjacent the joint-forming mechanism. The leading or free end portion of the twine is nextgripped by a subsidiary gripper and is released from the rotating gripper on the ring. A metal clip is then formed, around the overlapping portion of the twine, by the joint-forming mechanism and, finally, the length of twine around the bundle is severed from the supply by the severing mechanism while the ring is still rotating. In the operation of the machine of the present invention the ring completes two revolutions dureach machine cycle, and the various mechanisms are so interconnected to the actuation of the ring that no move ment of mechanisms in the machine takes place when the ring has stopped.

The machine of the present invention also comprises a beam which operates to compress and hold the bundle while the twine is being applied to it.

The present invention provides, as one of its several features, a machine wherein a ring carries a length of twine about a bundle and la joint-forming mechanism forms a joint in the twine to secure it around the bundle, and wherein the ring rotates continuously in one direction throughout any one cycle :of machine operation, and wherein no movement of the machine takes place while the ring is stationary.

The present invention also provides, as another of its several features, a machine wherein a ring rotates in one direction only to carry a length of twine about a bundle and wherein while the ring is rotating a joint-forming mechanism forms a joint in the twine and, also, the twine around the bundle is severed from a supply thereof.

The present invention further provides a machine conprlsing a ring, a twine gripper fixed on the ring, a twine supply device, joint-forming mechanism and a subsidiary gripper; wherein in the operation of the machine the ring rotates only in one direction to carry the gripper around the bundle. During rotation of the ring the gripper picks up a free end portion of a length of twine from the supply device, laying the twine around the bundle in such a manner that overlapping portions of twine are positioned adjacent the joint-forming mechanism. The gripper then transfers the free end portion of the twine to a subsidiary gripper, and, while the ring is still rotating, the jointforming mechanism forms a joint between the overlapping portions of twine.

The present invention also provides, as yet another of its several features, a machine wherein, in any one com plete cycle of operation of the machine, the ring rotates continuously in one direction and carries a gripper, which grips a free end portion of a length of twine extending to a supply, around the bundle in such a manner that a length of twine is applied right around the bundle and portions of twine in overlapping relation are positioned adjacent the oint-forming mechanism; and wherein the free end portlon of the twine then is gripped by the subsidiary gripper and released by the gripper on the ring, and wherein before the ring ceases to rotate, the joint-forming mecha: nism oins the overlapping portions of the twine by means of a metal clip, after which the jointed length of twine around the bundle is severed from the supply.

The above and other objects and advantageous f tures of this invention will appear from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claims.

It is, however, to be clearly understood that the utility of this invention about to be described is in no way hunted to machines for Wrapping a bundle with twine or cord, for it is within the contemplation and scope of this invention that similar or equivalent binding or wrapping mediums may be employed in conjunction with the machine of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the illustrated machine, partially broken away, and showing certain parts of the machine in their at rest condition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing certain parts of the machine of FIG. 1 as viewed in another condition or operative phase of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 1, with parts broken away and as viewed when the twine has been applied completely around a bundle;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the subsidiary gripper and the joint-forming mechanism of this machine;

FIG. 5 is another enlarged fragmentary view of the joint-forming mechanism as seen during its operative phase;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the subsidiary gripper and the joint-forming mechanism both as viewed in three progressive stages or phases of their operation;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded view of the main gripper assembly;

FIG. 10 shows a twine supply arm in perspective;

FIG. 11 shows a detail of the twine-severing mechanism;

FIG. 12 is another detail view of the joint-forming mechanism during one of its operative phases;

FIG. 13 is a timing diagram illustrative of the various operational phases of the machine elements during each complete cycle of the machine; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing, in a rear perspective view, the actuating components for the various operating instrumentalities of the machine.

From the foregoing drawings and the following de scription, it may readily be perceived that the general organization and actuating means for the twine supply arm, the ring-carried gripper, the metal strip feed, the strip preforming, severing and clinching mechanisms and for the twine severing knife are all substantially the same as those corresponding mechanisms illustrated and described in the abovementioned United States Letters Patent No. 2,198,440. Therefore, only so much of the prior art will be described as is necessary to enable an understanding of those modifications by which our present invention has improved the construction and operation of the heretofore known bundle wrapping machines.

Referring to the drawings, the herein illustrated machine is arranged to apply a length of twine T around a bundle B and to form a joint between overlapping portions of .the twine by means of a metal clip. The machine comprises a frame 2, in which are mounted a rotatable ring 4; joint-forming mechanism, indicated generally by the arrow 6; and twine-severing mechanism, indicated by the arrow 8. In the operation of the machine a bundle B is positioned on a table 12 that is affixed horizontally on the frame 2, and the ring 4 is caused to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1. A first gripper 24 on the ring 4 takes up and clamps a free end portion of twine from a twine supply device comprising a twine supply arm 36. Upon rotation of the ring twine is drawn out from the supply and is carried/past the jointforming and twine-severing mechanisms 6 and 8, around the bundle B. The ring 4 applies a length of twine right around the bundle B and portions of twine are laid in overlapping relationship adjacent the joint-forming mechanism 6, FIG. 3. The free .end portion of the twine T is next gripped by a subsidiary or second gripper 38, FIG. 4, and is then released from the gripper 24. A metal binding clip is formed around the overlapping portions of the twine T by the joint-forming mechanism 6, and the length of twine around the bundle B is severed from the twine supply by the severing mechanism 8 while the ring 4 is still rotating.

The frame 2 comprises a box-shaped base 10, shown in part in FIGURE 1, on which is mounted the table 12. A head frame 14 extends up from the base 10 above the table 12, and in the frame are mounted five eccentrically adjustable pins 16, on each of which is rotatably mounted a roll 18. The ring 4 is mounted in the head frame 14 on the five rolls 18 and it extends underneath the table 12. A slot 20 (FIGS. 4 and 6) is formed in the table 12 substantially in the plane of the ring 4. Gear teeth 22 around the circumference of the ring 4 engage a driving gear 5, FIGS. 1 and 14, which is driven, through a clutch 7, from an electric motor M.

The first twine gripper 24, FIG. 9, comprises an arouate mounting block 50 which is screwed into a recess in the ring 4. A conical roll 26 is secured by a screw 52 to the block 50 with its apex towards the block. A gripper arm 23 has fixed to it a shaft 36 which passes freely through the block 50 and through the ring 4, and

has fixed to it, on the other side of the ring from the gripper arm 28, a cam arm 32. The gripper arm 28 comprises a grooved oblique end face 34 which is arranged to abut against the surface of the conical roll 26. A pin 54 fixed to the gripper arm 28 is arranged to move in a slot 56 in the block 50', and a spring urged pin 58 in the slot 56 acts to engage the pin 54 and thus to hold the gripper arm 28 either in a first position where the end face 34 is spaced away from the roll 26, FIG. 1, or in a second position where the face 34 abuts against the roll 26, FIG. 2.

The twine supply arm 36 is fixed to one end of a hollow shaft 40 which is mounted for limited oscillatory movement and which has an oblique end face 41, FIG. 4. The arm 36 comprises a lug 46 towards its outer end, FIG. 10. This lug 46 is roughly heart-shaped and comprises a notch 60 in an upper, straight, edge. A leaf spring 42 is secured to the arm 36 by a screw 44, FIG. 4, and has one end positioned in the notch 60. In the at rest position of the machine, as shown in FIG. 1, the arm 36 is positioned extending slightly upwards from the shaft 40, and twine extends from the supply, through the shaft 40, and into the notch 60 between the lug 46 and the spring 42, which grips it against the lug 46. When the machine begins to operate the twine supply arm 36 is caused to move slightly more than 90 anticlockwise, as seen in FIG. 1, to the position shown in FIG. 2, bringing the twine, ex tending from the shaft 41] to the lug 46, into a roughly vertical position in the path of the oncoming gripper 24. The foregoing shifting of the arm 36 is in response to an oscillatory movement of the hollow shaft 40 which, as seen in FIG. 14, is connected to a lever linkage that is actuated to and fro by a power operated cam 47 on the main cam shaft of the machine. As the gripper 24 passes the arm 36, the gripper arm as is in its open or first position, FIG. 1, so that the twine is caught on the roll 26 and is drawn into the corner formed between the roll 26 and the block 50. The gripper arm 28 is then camrned by a cam roll 49 on a linkage 48 connected to the arm 36, FIG. 2, into its second position so that the twine T is firmly gripped between the roll 26 and the end 34 of the. gripper arm 28, as a result of which the twine is drawn out from between the lug 46 and the spring 42.

The twineasevering mechanism 8 comprises a block 64, FIGS. 4 and 11, which is fixed to the underside of the table 12 and projects a little way into the slot 20. The block 64 comprises a lug 66 at one end, which provides one side of a transverse slot 62 formed in the block 64. The lug 66 itself has a slot 65 formed therein, perpendicular to the slot 62. This slot 65 is a little deeper than the slot 62 but does not extend to the top of the block 64. A knife 68, movably mounted in the block 64, is moved by cam mechanism 69, FIG. 14, across the slot 62 and through the slot 65, thus to sever twine lying in the slot 62.

The joint-forming mechanism '6, which is seen in FIG. 1 just to the left of the twine-severing mechanism 8, is constructed and operates in substantially the same manner as disclosed in prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,443,470, granted June 15, 1948, in the name of M-archand. This mechanism will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 5 through 8 and 12, wherein the joint-forming mechanism comprises a stationary forming block 70, a strip shearing and preforming tool 72, FIG. 1, and a movable clenching tool 74. The block 79 is fixed under the table 12 set back somewhat from the slot 20, FIGS. 5 and 12, and comprises a strip guide slot 76, a preforming recess 78 and a forming face 80. The shearing and preforming tool 72 is operated by cam mechanism shown in FIG. 14, and comprises a shearing blade 82 and a preforming punch 84. In forming a metal clip joint, the metal strip S is fed up through the slot 76 until its end abuts against the clenching tool 74. The shearing and preforming tool 72 is then moved upwards, the blade 82 shearing ofii a required length of the strip to form a clip and wedging the severed length between the clenching tool 74 and the forming face 80 on the end of the forming block 70. The preforming punch 84 on its upward movement forces the leading edge of the strip supply into the preforming recess 78. It will thus be seen that each portion of strip severed has its leading edge preformed to give it a slight curl, shown in FIG. at 86. The length of strip sheared off is controlled by the position of the tool 74 when the strip is fed against it. The movable clenching tool 74 comprises a block 88, FIG. 4, having a slot 90 cut in it at one end. The block 88 is mounted for sliding movement between guidew-ays 92, 94 fixed to the underside of the table 12, and a bracket 96 which is also fixed to the table. Pivoted in the slot 90 at 102 is a toggle arm 98 which is pivoted to another toggle arm 104, FIG. 5, at 100. The toggle arm 104 is also pivoted to the frame base at 105, and is linked to a cam arm 108 by a link 110. The cam arm IE8 is pivoted at one end to the base 1!} at 112, and towards its other end it carries a cam roll 114 which is urged against a earn 116 by springs 118. It thus can be seen that when this cam 116 causes the cam roll 114 to move up into the position shown in FIG. 5, the toggle formed by the toggle arms 98 and 104 lengthens and pushes the block 88 towards the forming block 70. Also conversely, downward move ment of the cam roll 114 allows the springs 11% to draw the block 88 away from the block '78.

The block 88, towards the block 70, is provided with a flange 119, FIGS. 5 and 12, which is arranged to fit into a recess 128 formed between the block 70 and the table 12. Secured to the block 88 below the flange 119 is a forming head 122. This head 122 is slidably mounted on a bolt 124 shown in FIG. 6, fixed in the block 88, and the head 122 comprises a pin 126 which is slidably mounted in a bore 128 of the block 88, and a spring 130 urges the head 122 into engagement with the head of the bolt 124. The head 122, which is thus movable to a limited extent against the pressure of a spring 136*, comprises a clip forming recess 132, FIG. 12, into which the precurled end of the metal strip is pushed.

It is apparent, from the preceding description of the twine gripper mechanism 24 which is carried by the rotation of the ring 4, of the twine supply arm 36, of the twine severing mechanism 8, and of the joint forming mechanism 6, that these parts are substantially the same in both construction and operation as the corresponding parts disclosed in the above-mentioned prior patents. However, the secondary or subsidiary gripper 38 which is about to be described is a feature that is not to be found in the prior art patents. Since its employment, in conjunction with a basic difierence between the operation of prior machines and that of the present invention, is responsible for the greatly improved operation of the machine of the present invention, it will be helpful to pause and now point out said basic operating ditferences.

In the prior machines referred to, the rotatable ring is provided with .a plurality of twine grippers each of which may alternately pick up the free end of the twine from the twine supply arm to form a twine wrapping about one of a sequence of bundles. In the at-rest position of the prior machines the twine supply arm holds the end of the twine directed downward and in the path of the rotating grippers, so that, upon rotation of the ring, the first gripper to engage with the twine end will grip it and then carry it around the bundle far enough to provide two overlapping portions of twine that may be clipped together to form a jointure. This requires that the gripper rotate with the twine slightly more than one complete revolution, as a result of which the gripper that has hold of the twine when the ring stops rotating, is not in its previous vat-rest position; and, since this gripper, in order to maintain tension on the twine, must remain stationary during the clip attaching and twine severing operations, it one or more similar grippers were not variously spaced about the ring much useless time would be consumed before a gripper would be in proper position so as again to receive the end of twine from the twine supply arm preparatory to the next bundle wrapping operation. While the provision of a. plurality of widely spaced apart gripper mechanisms reduces the loss of time in again bringing a gripper into operative engagement with the twine after the completion of the previous operation, such an arrangement does not eliminate the necessity for always and quickly stopping the rapidly rotating ring at a precise point in its travel and at ,a precise time with respect to the timing of the other machine operations which must take place after the twine tensioning gripper has been arrested. The basic difference which constitutes the improvement in the machine of the present invention is that the ring need not be stopped or even :decelerated prior to or during the clip attaching and twine severing operations, because, as soon as an overlapping condition of the twine has been produced, the end of the twine is transferred from the rotating gripper to a stationary subsidiary gripper which holds the twine firmly to impart the requisite tension during the remaining operations of the machine. Since this transfer of the twine is automatically accomplished by reason of the rotating gripper arriving at the location of the second or subsidiary gripper, the timing of the twine transfer is always constant. Also, the provision of the secondary gripper permits the rotating gripper and ring to continue their movement during the remaining operations of the machine, so that, at the conclusion of the entire machine cycle, the gripper on the ring is stopped at an at-rest position which is short of the lo cation where it will again pick up the twine end from the twine supply arm during the next cycle of the machine.

Ooming now to the second or subsidiary gripper 38, which is illustrated in FIG. 4 and is mount-ed alongside the joint-forming mechanism 6, this gripper comprises a block 134 which is mounted tor sliding movement between the guideway 94 and another guideway 136 which is also fixed to the under side of the table 12 and the bracket 96'. The block 134 is provided with a recess 138 and one end of a lever 1140 is mounted in this recess 138 between the block 136 and the bracket 96-. The lever 140 is connected at its other end to an air-operated piston 142, and is pivoted to the bracket 96 at 144-, FIG. 4. It can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the guideway 94 is shallower than the blocks 88 and 134, i

and that these blocks consequently abut one against the other. The block 134 is provided with .a stepped projection 146 which terminates in a downwardly extending lug 148, 'FIGS. 5, 6, and 8. Just below the projection 146 a recess 150, FIGS. 5 and 7, is formed in the side of the block 134 which abuts against the block 88, and a projection 152 on the block 88 is arranged, at times in the operation of the machine, to. enter this recess and thus to limit relative movement of the two blocks. Pivoted to the projection 146, FIG. 6, is a catch 154 which comprises a twine-gripping arm 156 and a cam arm 158. A spring urged plunger 16-0 urges the catch 154 clockwise about its pivot (viewing FIGS. 4 and 6) and thus urges the twine-gripping arm 156 against an inside face of the downwardly extending lug 148. Both the lug 14S and the arm 156 have chamfered lower portions which provide a lead in between the two in which lead twine may be drawn during the operation of the machine. The guideway 94 has a chamfered edge 1'62 adjacent the slot 20, and thus provides a cam surface for the cam arm 158. It can thus be seen, from FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, that, depending upon the position of the projection 146 of the block 134 relative to the guideway 94, the gripping arm "156 of the catch 154 is either held away from the lug 148 or urged against it.

The twine release mechanism will next be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 wherein the twine release mechanism 164 is arranged adjacent the subsidiary gripper 38. The mechanism 164 comprises a bell crank lever 166 which is pivoted at 168. One end portion of the lever 166 carries a pin 170; the other end portion is arranged to be abuttingly engaged by a lever 172 fixed .to a shaft .174. A cam arm 176, moved by the cam 71 (FIG. 14), is also fixed to the shaft I74. The previously described shearing and preforming tool 72 is also fixed to this cam arm 176 the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. Movement of the cam arm 176 causes the lever 166 to move between a first position (shown in FIG. 1) and a second position (shown in FIG. 3); a spring 169, FIG. 14, normally urges the lever 166 into its first position.

The machine is also provided with a device which operates to compress the bundle to which twine is to be applied. This device comprises a beam 173 which is mounted in slideways 130, 182 for up and down sliding movement. The slideways 180, 182 are closely adjacent the head frame 14. Fixed to the beam 173 is a lug 184 to which is fastened a rod 186 which forms the piston rod of a piston 188 mounted in an air cylinder 1%. In operation, the beam 178 is held in an uppermost position (FIG. 1) when the machine is at rest, and soon after the machine is set into operation a cam-operated valve BI, FIG. 14, vents air from the lower end of the air cylinder 190, whereupon the beam 178 descends under its own weight to compress a bundle B on the table 12. Later in the operation of the illustrated machine compressed air is again admitted to the lower end of the air cylinder 1% and the beam 178 is returned to its uppermost position.

In order that the sequence of automatic operation of the machine may be fully understood, one complete cycle of the machines operation will now be described with reference to FIG. 13. Inasmuch as the ring 4 performs two complete revolutions in each complete cycle of the machine, the machine cycle now to be described will be indexed with relation to the revolutions of the ring 4 as it rotates through the 720 that comprise its two complete revolutions.

With the machine parts in their at-rest position as illustrated in FIG. 1, a bundle B is positioned on the table 12. The twine supply extends through the hollow shaft 40 and into the notch 60, FIG. 10, of the twine supply arm 36,'and the gripper arm 28 of the gripper 24 is in its first position. l20--The machine is set into operation by the operator engaging the clutch 7 and the ring 4 begins to rotate. The twine supply arm 36 moves down from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in 1 FIG. 2. 20-60 The movable clenching tool 74, FIGS. 4

through 7, moves forward fnom its position as shown in FIGURE 6 to its position as shown in FIGURE 7, and

bridges the slot 20. The subsidiary or secondary gripper 38 does not move at this stage of machine operation. 30150Metal strip is fed forward through the slot 76, and the preformed curled end 86, FIG. 5, abuts against the movable clenching tool 74, FIG. 12, the strip thus also bridging the slot 20. 30-150The knife 68, FIG. 11, which was left in a forward, cutting position at the end of the previous cycle, is retracted, FIG. 4, out of the slot 62. 40-60-Air is vented from the cylinder 190, FIG. 1,

and the beam 178 is dropped onto the bundle B, compressing it. 120As the gripper 24, FIG. 2, passes the twine supply arm 36, the conical roll 26 engages the twine and pulls it into the notch between the roll 26 and the block The cam roll 49 on the linkage 48 then shifts the gripper arm 28 and snaps it over from its first position into its second position. Twine is then drawn out from the notch 60 of the supply arm 36.

180--Further travel of the ring 4 draws twine out I 11, of the block 64 of the twine severing mechanism and then between the head 122 of the movable clenching tool 74 and the forming block 74), where it runs underneath a portion of metal strip.

180-460-The cam arm 176, FIG. 1 is moved upwards: this causes the shearing and preforming tool 72 to shear off one length of metal strip, which length is jammed between the clenching tool 74 and the forming block 7h. At the same time movement of the cam arm 176 causes the bell crank lever I66 to move from its first position'as shown in FIG. 1 to its second position as shown in. FIG. 3. It will be noted that when the gripper 24- passes the pin 17% in the first revolution of the ring 4, the lever 166 is not in its second position.

200-240The twine supply arm 36 moves up from its position, as shown in FIG. 2 into an intermediate position, that is to say to the position as shown by the chain line in FIG. 3.

270280-The lever 140, FIG. 4, moves the subsidiary gripper 38 towards the slot 2h from its position shown in FIG. 7 to its position shown in FIG. 8. The gripper .38 is moved forward until the projection I52, FIGS. 5 and 7, engages in the recess 150. The first reach of twine which lies under the bundle B is pushed by the outside face of the lug 148 under the table 12. The cam arm 158 of the catch 154 is thus moved out of contact with the chamfered edge 162, and the gripping arm 156 is thus spring urged against the inside face of the lug I48. I

c 460-The twine has now been carried almost once completely round the bundle B: tension in the twine during its application to the bundle is maintained by any suitable slack take up mechanism. As the ring 4 rotates to lay a second reach of twine under the bundle B this second reach contacts the lug 46 of the twine supply arm 36, which lug holds this reach of twine out away from the notch 62 of the severing mechanism 8, the twine thus sliding up the outside face of the lug 66 and lying above the slot 65. Further movement of the ring 4 lays the twine in overlapping relation alongside the first reach of twine between the tool 74 and the block 70, and then lays the twine between the lug 148 and the twine gripping arm 156 of the subsidiary gripper 38. It will be realized that the construction of this gripper is such that this twine can readily be drawn through the gripper 38 towards the left (viewing FIG. 4) but cannot be drawn through towards the right.

47G -485The twine supply arm 36 moves up into its uppermost position, and grips the first reach of twine in the notch 60.

c 485 -The gripper 24, 'Which is still gripping the twine,

moves past the pin 17%, FIG. 3. The bell crank lever 166 is now in its second position, and the pin 170 contacts the cam arm 32. and moves the gripper arm 28 from its second into its first position thus releasing the twine from the gripper 24. The twine is now securely held towards its free end by the subsidiary gripper .38. The ring 4, now free of the twine, continues to complete its second revolution.

0 510-The clenching tool 74 begins to move towards the block 7% and thus to deform the severed piece of metal strip jammed between the forming head 122 and the block 70 to form a clip around the two overlapping reaches of twine lying under said piece of strip. The subsidiary gripper 38 also moves someway towards the block 70 with the clenching tool 74, the projection 152 abutting against the recess but this movement of the gripper 38 is arrested by the piston 142 before movement of the clenching tool is completed, Movement of the subsidiary gripper 38 is such that the two portions of twine extending between the forming tool 74 and the block 70 and respectively through and past the gripper 33 are held in as nearly a straight line condition as possible. This 3,1 era 1 67 facilitates the forming of a strong joint. When the metal strip has been firmly clenched around the twine,

forming a secure joint, the clenching tool 74- begins to return. Shortly after the beginning of this return movement the subsidiary gripper 38 is moved back -by the lever Mil; the cam arm 115 8 of the catch 154 engages the charnfered edge 162 of the guideway 9-4;,

and the catch 154 is rotated against the pressure of the plunger 168*, the gripping arm 156 being moved away from the lug 143 and the twine thus released.

The clenching tool 74 continues on to complete its return movement. 520600--The cam arm 176 operates to return the bell crank lever 166 to its first position and also to move the shearing tool 72 downwards away from the forming block 7%. 6D0The knife 68 moves forward across the slot 62,

through the slot 65 and cuts the twine in the slot 62..

The bundle B is now surrounded by a length of twine joined by a metal clip. 640-l he beam 173 is moved up. 680'.[ he clenching tool 74 has moved back clear of the slot 20: the joint is now free and the tied bundle B may be removed. 720-The ring 4 stops.

In the illustrated machine the operation of each mechanism is controlled positively from shafts which are directly geared to the ring 4. Thus once the ring 4 has stopped rotating no further operation of any mechanism takes place. In fact in the operation of the illustrative machine the clutch automatically disengages the ring 4 from the drive of the electric motor at about 680: the ring 4 is then brought to rest by a brake. As can be seen, all the mechanisms are stationary for the last thirty degrees of movement of the ring 4.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

'1. A machine adapted for use in applying a length of twine or the like about a bundle, comprising: a rotatable t-wine applying ring, a main twine gripper mounted on the ring and adapted to clamp the free end of the twine as the gripper moves past a twine supplying mechanism which is movable into and out of the rotary path of said gripper, a joint forming mechanism, a subsidiary twine gripper adjacent the joint forming mechanism and movable into and out of the path of the main gripper; and power actuating means so constructed and arranged that, in each cycle of operation of the machine, the ring makes two complete revolutions about the bundle while rotating continuously in one direction and carries the main gripper twice around a bundle, said main gripper picking up the free end portion of the twine from the supplying mechanism and laying the twine around the bundle in such a manner that overlapping portions of twine are positioned at the joint forming mechanism and, while the ring is still rotating, means for transferring the free end portion of the twine from the rotating main gripper to the subsidiary gripper which intercepts the path of the twine, and the joint forming mechanism forms a joint between the overlapping portions of the twine while the ring and the main gripper continue to rotate about the bundle for a second time.

2. A machine, according to claim '1, wherein the twine supply mechanism is arranged to grip twine extending from the supply after overlapping portions of twine have been positioned at the joint forming mechanism and before the ring has ceased rotating.

3. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the subsidiary gripper comprises a spring urged catch which cooperates with a stationary cam face, and wherein in the operation of the machine the subsidiary gripper is moved from a retracted position, in which it is removed from the path of twine around the bundle and in which a gripping arm is cammed open, to a gripping position where it receives and grips the free end portion of the twine and then is moved back to its retracted position, the catch being cammed open by the cam face on such backward movement to release the twine.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the subsidiary gripper is moved from its gripping position to its retracted position by movement of the joint forming mechanism.

5. In a machine for wrapping twine about a bundle to form two overlapping twine portions, and for jointing said portions together by applying a clip thereto at a joint forming station; a twine supply arm, spaced to one side or" said station, for initially holding the free end of a length of twine; a subsidiary gripper, adjacent the opposite side of said station, for finally receiving and gripping said twine end after the overlapping twine portions are formed; a main twine gripper operatively mounted on a rotatable ring for movement from a starting position in a direction so as to pass said supply arm while approaching the joint-forming station; means for transferring the twine end from said arm to the main gripper as it passes the arm; means for imparting two complete revolutions around a bundle to said ring and main gripper, whereby the main gripper will draw the twine twice past said station to form thereat an overlapping end portion of twine; means operable, in response to the second passage of the main gripper past said station, to transfer the twine end from the main gripper to the subsidiary gripper while the ring and main gripper continue to rotate toward their starting position; joint-forming mechanism operative after the transfer of twine to the subsidiary gripper; and twine severing means operative after the joint-forming operation and before the ring and main gripper complete their second rotation.

6. A bundle tying machine adapted to wrap a length of twine about a bundle and to secure both twine ends together in overlapping relation by applying thereto an encircling clip, comprising: a rotatable ring; a fixed sup porting surface upon which a bundle to be tied may be positioned within and adjacent the circumference of said ring; means, including a clutch and power transmission mechanism, for imparting to the ring two complete unidirectional revolutions around said bundle during each operation of the machine; a main twine gripper operatively attached to a portion of the ring adjacent said circumference; a shiftable twine supply arm, rom which twine may be vidthdrawn, provided with yieldable clamping means for releasably holding the free end of the twine supply; a subsidiary gripper adjacent the rotative path of the main gripper and adapted to receive and clamp the end of the overlapped twine when presented by the main gripper; twine releasemechanism adjacent the subsidiary gripper and operative to release the twine from the main gripper after the wrapped twine end is in engagement with the subsidiary gripper; joint-forming mechanism operative to apply a clip to the wrapped twine after the end of the twins is engaged by the subsidiary gripper and while the ring and main gripper continue to rotate; twine severing mechanism operative, after the joint has been formed,-to sever the wrapped twine from the twine supply; and a brake associated with said clutch and power transmission mechanism for stopping the rotation of the ring after two complete revolutions thereof, and after the completion of the joint forming and twine severing operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,198,440 Marchand Apr. 23, 1940 2,614,487 Cheesman Oct. 21, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 140,025 Australia Jan. 23, 1951 

1. A MACHINE ADAPTED FOR USE IN APPLYING A LENGTH OF TWINE OR THE LIKE ABOUT A BUNDLE, COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE TWINE APPLYING RING, A MAIN TWINE GRIPPER MOUNTED ON THE RING AND ADAPTED TO CLAMP THE FREE END OF THE TWINE AS THE GRIPPER MOVES PAST A TWINE SUPPLYING MECHANISM WHICH IS MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF THE ROTARY PATH OF SAID GRIPPER, A JOINT FORMING MECHANISM, A SUBSIDIARY TWINE GRIPPER ADJACENT THE JOINT FORMING MECHANISM AND MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF THE PATH OF THE MAIN GRIPPER; AND POWER ACTUATING MEANS SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT, IN EACH CYCLE OF OPERATION OF THE MACHINE, THE RING MAKES TWO COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS ABOUT THE BUNDLE WHILE ROTATING CONTINUOUSLY IN ONE DIRECTION AND CARRIES THE MAIN GRIPPER TWICE AROUND A BUNDLE, SAID MAIN GRIP- 